Henry Cavil announced that he is leaving the Netflix series with Liam Hemsworth replacing him as Geralt of Rivia
Henry Cavill shockingly announced on social media that he will no longer be playing Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series on Netflix, following season three. Liam Hemsworth will be picking up the White Wolf’s steal and silver swords for seasons four and five (already rumored to be in production).
Cavill wrote on Instagram, “My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4. In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced of me.”
Soon after Cavill’s announcement, Hemsworth, stated, “As a Witcher fan I’m over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia. Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I’m honored that he’s handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf’s blades for the next chapter of his adventure…I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world.
Hemsworth is best known as Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games and for staring across from Miley Cyrus in The Last Song. He is set to lead the upcoming Netflix film Lonely Planet alongside Laura Dern. He certainly has big boots to fill but at least we know he can turn to his brother Chris for his godlike workout regimen.
For those who worry that Hemsworth’s recasting could be jarring and that he doesn’t have the pedigree to embody the White Wolf, it’s worth pointing out that, in the books (upon which the show is based), Geralt starts to take a back seat as Ciri’s story expands and he is virtually absent from the final book.
The announcement comes as quite a surprise, considering how big a fan Cavill is of The Witcher franchise and how hard he fought for the role. One can only wonder if this has anything to do with his recent announcement that he will be returning to the DCU as Superman and the news that James Gun and Peter Safran have been appointed to head up DC’s film, television, and animation efforts at Warner Brothers. For many, Cavill has become synonymous with the White Wolf, but I for one will be withholding judgment until I see Hemsworth in the icon white wig and golden eyes.
